Holder for rolled material



Aug. 27, 1968 G. D. THOMPSON 3,398,908

HOLDER FOR ROLLED MATERIAL Filed Dec. 9, 1966 l0 INVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,398,908 HOLDER FOR ROLLED MATERIAL George D.Thompson, 3660 Beethoven St., Los Angeles, Calif. 90066 Filed Dec. 9,1966, Ser. No. 600,508 1 Claim. (Cl. 24255.2)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A holder for rolled material having an armand a knob portion. The roll of material is to have a cylindricalopening therethrough and capable of being rotatably supported upon thearm. The knob necessitates the forcing of the roll of material upon thearm, yet allows ease of removal of the material.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The invention is particularly suitable for theholding of rolled material to facilitate dispensing. It is extremelycommon that material such as paper, plastic, tin foil and other flexiblematerials are wound upon a hollow cylindrical cartridge. Also, it iswell known that to facilitate dispensing and use of the wound material,a holding means can be employed within the opening of the cartridge,allowing the resultant roll to be freely pivotal upon said holdingmeans. Such holders usually are designed to facilitate the placing ofthe roll of material upon the holder and the removal of the cartridgeonce the role is expended. However, heretofore such holder design hasbeen unnecessarily complicated which increases both cost of manufactureof the holder and its operation. A particularly applicable type ofrolled material is a roll of toilet tissue. In the prior art a multitudeof toilet tissue holders have been employed. The most common one is theuse of a spring biased roller which is used in conjunction with asupporting bracket assembly. Usually the roller is adjustable in itslongitudinal length. The spring means is associated with the roller insome manner to bias the roller to its maximum length. The roller canthen be moved to its minimum length position against the action of thesprin bias and inserted into its associated bracket and caused to expandunder the action of the spring bias and to effect solid engagement withthe bracket. The spring bias is of suflicient strength to maintain theroller in the maximum length position, thereby maintaining the roller inengagement with the bracket. It is not necessary that the roller itselfbe spring biased. The bracket itself may be adjustable in some manner asto allow engagement and disengagement of a fixed length roller; however,an adjustable length roller of the kind herein described has been foundto be the least inexpensive way to support a roll of toilet tissue.

The operation and movements required to replace an expended roll oftoilet tissue with a new roll of toilet tissue is as follows. First, theroller of the prior art has to be moved to its minimal length positionby means of some exterior instrument. Then the roller and the extendedcartridge thereon are removed from its associated bracket. The extendedcartridge is discarded, the new roll of toilet tissue is placed on theroller, and the roller is then reinserted into its bracket causing theroller again to move into the minimal longitudinal position andthereupon expand, once in that position to effect engagement with itsbracket. It is obvious that several distinct steps are required toeffect this simple replacement operation Patented Aug. 27, 1968 of atoilet tissue roll. Such types of toilet tissue holders are the mostcommon type of toilet tissue holding means used. Besides the basicinconvenience of causing the roller to become engaged and disengagedwith the bracket, such an operation is time consuming and cumbersome. Inindustry where one person may be required to reinstall several hundredrolls of toilet tissue per day, much of his time is spent in theseparate steps to remove and reinstall the toilet tissue supportingroller.

The structure of applicants invention overcomes the several operationsrequired in the mounting of the roller of the prior art. In thisinvention it is not necessary to remove any roller of any kind to effectthe mounting of a toilet tissue roll upon the holder. Once the tissue isexpended it is simply removed in the same manner in which the roll wasinstalled. Also, the holder of this invention provides a sure means ofholding the roll of toilet tissue without a possibility of accidentialrelease from the holder. The holder is also designed so the toilettissue roll is supported to roll freely yet roll with enough drag toprevent the roll of toilet tissue from continuous unwinding.

Briefly, this invention relates to a fixed arm upon which the toilettissue roll is to be supported. The arm is fixed to a bracket or otherstructure which is to effect mounting of the invention at any desiredlocation. The bracket per se forms no part of this invention, but isstrictly necessary to cause the mounting of the structure of thisinvention. The arm is formed from a cylindrical shaped member, but has aflat area on one side and a beveled area located diametrically acrossfrom the flat area. Located on the extremity of the arm is a knob. Theshape of the knob is substantially planar with the outer surfaces of theknob being rounded. The knob is so designed so its largest dimension isslightly larger than the diameter of the opening located in thecartridge of the roll of toilet tissue. The roll of tissue is theninserted over the knob onto the arm. Because of the dimensions of theknob it is necessary that the roll be forceably inserted upon the arm.Once the roll is inserted upon the arm, the roll is prevented fromwithdrawal due to the knob. The flat portion of the arm creates a slightdrag upon the roll, thereby preventing free unwinding of the roll oftissue. When it is necessary to remove the cartridge of the roll, thetissue having been expended, the person need only grab the cartridge andto squeeze its outer extremity to distort it sufficiently to causeremoval of the cartridge over the knob. The lower beveled portion of thearm allows the deflection or distorting of the cartridge.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof may be best understood byreference to the following description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the inventionshowing its association with rolls of toilet tissue;

FIGURE 2 is another embodiment of the invention shown in conjunctionwith a typical toilet tissue holder located in the home; and

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 2.

Referring specifically to the drawing in FIGURE 1 there is shown onetype of toilet tissue holder embodying the instant invention. A bracket10 is shown having I 3 an upstanding portion 12 to which is attached anarm 14. Bracket and portion 12 are merely for the affixing of the arm ofapplicants invention to a desired location and form no part of theinvention per se. Arm 14 can be made as one piece with the portion 12 asshown in the drawing or any conventional fastening means such as screwscan be employed. Bracket 10, portion 12 and arm 14 could be made out ofany type of material, common materials being wood, plastic or metal.

In FIGURE 1 the arm 14 is shown extending an equal distance on eitherside of the upstanding portion 12. With this length of arm it is capableof supporting a roll of toilet tissue on either side of the upstandingportion 12 as depicted in the drawing. The arm 14 is basicallyconstructed of round stock having diametrically opposite flattened areas16 and 18. Areas 16 and 18 are merely for the purpose of creating aslight drag on the roll of toilet tissue, thereby preventing the roll oftoilet tissue from freely unwinding. Located on the extremities of thearm 14 are knobs 20 and 22. Each of the knobs 20 and 22 has a widthsubstantially greater than its: depth. Each of the knobs 20 and 22 formsa fiat abutment surface at the point of connection with the arm 14. Eachof the knobs 20 and 22 are rounded at their extremities forming asmoothly contoured surface. It may be said that the cross-sectionalconfiguration of each of the knobs 20 and 22 is substantiallyellipsoidal. Located between each of the knobs 20 and 22 between theflattened area 18 are beveled sections 24 and 26. The function of eachof the bevels will be described later in this specification.

The operation of the device of FIGURE 1 is as follows. The bracket 10 isaffixed to either a vertical or a horizontal type of structure, such asa wall of a room or a horizontal shelf. It is only necessary that oncethe bracket is aflixed that the arm 14 depend substantially in ahorizontal direction. Each of the knobs 20 and 22 are designed to beslightly larger than the center cylindrical opening 28 of the roll oftoilet tissue 30. To position the roll of toilet tissue 30 on the arm14, the knob 20 is forceably moved through the aperture 28 of the roll30. The arm 14 is of sufficient length that the roll 30 can be exertedsufliciently to be placed out of contact with the knob 20 and be solelysupported on the arm 14. In a like manner a roll of toilet tissue may beplaced over knob 22 thereby coming to rest on the opposite end of arm14. Once the roll of toilet tissue 30 has been expended, it is necessaryto remove the cartridge 32 which forms the opening 28 of the roll 30. Tofacilitate the removal, the bevels 24 and 26 are provided. Because suchcartridges 32 are readily flexible, usually made out of cardboard orlike material, it is only necesary that the cartridge be slightlydeflected at the end near the knob 20 or 22, resulting in the cartridge32 being deformed in an oblong shape. Thereupon, the cartridge 32 willeasily pass over the knob 20 or 22 as the case may be. The bevels 24 and26 allow the deflection of the cartridge 32. As is obvious from theforegoing, the insertion of a roll of toliet tissue upon applicantsholder and its subsequent removal upon being expended are relativelyeasy and simple, requiring little time and effort.

In FIGURES 2 and 3 there is shown an arm 34 having a knob 35 ofapplicants invention as would be installed in a typical type of toilettissue holder which would be submerged within a wall structure 36. Suchtissue holders are common in homes. The tissue holder is shown as havinga casing 38 and a frontal plate portion 40 which is to be mounted flushor substantially flush to the wall structure 36. The arm 34 includingknob 35 is identical to the type of arm and knob as was described inFIGURE 1 except that the arm is not shown and described in duplicate. Itis used to support one roll of toilet tissue only. However, it is to benoted that the arm 34 and knob 35 are rotated in place 90 from theposition of FIGURE 1. The arm 34 is fixedly secured to the casing 38 andextends approximately one-half the Width of the casing 38.

The end 42 of the casing 38 which is nearest the knob 35 is shapedsimilar in design to the nose of a bullet. The rear portion of thecasing 38 decreases in depth until it becomes flush with the frontalplate portion 40. This casing 38 is so constructed as to allow easyinstallation and removal of the roll with respect to the arm 34. The arm34 is rotated from the arm 14 of FIGURE 1 so the knob 35 will bepositioned as to not interfere with the removal of the roll cartridge32. Beveled portion 44 is provided to facilitate such removal as waspreviously described. Also, flattened areas 46 and 48 are provided forthe same purpose as areas 16 and 18 of FIGURE 1.

In summary, the apparatus of applicants invention is meant to securelysupport a roll of toilet tissue preventing accidental dislodgementtherefrom. Also, the roll of toilet tissue is held against being freelyunwound, which is an undesirable problem in most conventional types oftoilet tissue holders. The roll of toilet tissue can be easily insertedwith one quick movement upon the holder of applicants invention, yet theextended cartridge can be readily removed with one quick operatingmovement once the roll of toilet tissue has been expended.

The types of apparatus which are shown and described which support theholder of applicants invention are only shown and described for thepurpose of showing the particular type of installation. The adjoiningapparatus as has been described in relation to the structure ofapplicants invention has been merely described for the purpose ofclearly showing the application of the structure of applicants inventionto typical types of toilet tissue holders as are commonly used. Thenovelty of applicants invention lies in the construction of the arm andits adjoining knob portion, there also being novelty in the combinationof such with a common or readily available type of toilet tissuesupporting structure. It is to be noted that the arm and knob ofapplicants invention can be readily employed upon any type of toilettissue holder without departing from the scope of his invention.

It is felt that various other features and advantages not specificallyenumerated will undoubtedly occur to those versed in the art as likewisewill many variations and modifications of the embodiment of theinvention illustrated, all of which may be achieved without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the followingclaim.

I claim:

1. A holder for a roll of sheet material, said sheet material beingwound upon a deflatable deformable cartridge, said cartridge having .alongitudinal cylindrical aperture therein, said holder comprising:

an elongated arm being capable of rotatingly supporting said roll ofsheet material, said arm being basic- :ally cylindrical in construction,said arm having a longitudinal planar surface thereon which deviatesfrom the basic cylindrical construction of said arm, said arm includingan indented portion; and

a single unit knob aflixed to one end of said arm, said knob having itsmaximum width substantially greater than its depth, said maximum widthbeing greater than the diameter of said arm, said knob being affixed tosaid arm so that an equal amount of said maximum Width extends on eachside of said arm, the width of said knob being greatest nearest said armportion 'but with a depth less than the diameter of said arm andsubstantially flush with the outer surface of said indented portion ofsaid arm, the width of said knob decreases as its length from said armincreases, said maximum width of said knob being slightly larger thanthe diameter of said cylindrical aperture of said cartridge, wherebysaid arm can be made to be within said aperture of said cartridge uponwhich said sheet material is wound by having said knob forcibly passedthrough said aperture whereby said indented portion permits the man ualdeformation of said cartridge facilitating passage 5 6 of said cartridgeover said knob upon expenditure of the 2,513,699 7/ 1950 Williams242-552 sheet material. 2,523,951 9/1950 Graumlich 24255.2 ReferencesCited 2,858,995 11/1958 Sarro 211123 X UNITED PATENTS 5 ROY D. F RAZIER,Primary Examiner. 1,687,819 10/1928 WOrthIngtOn 24255.2 2,171,648 9/1939Ennis et a1. 242 55.2 FRANK DOMOTOR, Assistant mine 2,392,996 1/1946Poitier 24255.2

